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Comment
. 2007 Feb 1;578(Pt 3):623-5.
doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2006.123224. Epub 2006 Oct 26.

Bernard Katz, quantal transmitter release and the foundations of presynaptic physiology

George J Augustine  1 , Haruo Kasai
Affiliations
Comment

Bernard Katz, quantal transmitter release and the foundations of presynaptic physiology

George J Augustine et al. J Physiol. .
No abstract available

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Recording of spontaneous minis (top) and an evoked EPP (bottom); the latter is suprathreshold and elicits an action potential in the postsynaptic muscle fibre Modified from Fatt & Katz (1952).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Quantal transmitter release A, recordings of EPPs from a neuromuscular synapse bathed in a low calcium Ringer solution. Each trace represents several superimposed responses to stimulation of the presynaptic motor neuron (at arrows). Note the step-like fluctuations in EPP amplitude. From Fatt & Katz (1952). B, quantitative analysis of EPP amplitude fluctuations. The upper graph plots the distribution of amplitudes of minis, which can be described by a Gaussian function. The lower graph illustrates the pronounced trial-to-trial fluctuations in EPP amplitude, including ‘failures’ (leftmost histobar) where no EPP was elicited. Smooth curve represents the predictions of a Poisson series, assuming that EPPs represent multiple release of mini-like quanta. The number of quanta in each EPP is indicated by the roman numerals on the abscissa. Horizontal arrows indicate number of EPP failures predicted from Poisson model. Modified from del Castillo & Katz (1954).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

    1. del Castillo J, Katz B. Quantal components of the end-plate potential. J Physiol. 1954;124:560–573. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Erxleben C, Kriebel ME. Subunit composition of the spontaneous miniature end-plate currents at the mouse neuromuscular junction. J Physiol. 1988;400:659–676. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Fatt P, Katz B. An analysis of the end-plate potential recorded with an intra-cellular electrode. J Physiol. 1951;115:320–370. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Fatt P, Katz B. Spontaneous subthreshold activity at motor nerve endings. J Physiol. 1952;117:109–128. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Isaac JT, Nicoll RA, Malenka RC. Evidence for silent synapses: implications for the expression of LTP. Neuron. 1995;15:427–434. - PubMed

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